Integrative Oriental Medicine is now Holistic Pain Solutions

Acupuncture

What are acupuncture and moxibustion?

Acupuncture is the insertion of solid needles into the body in a manner
which relieves pain, stress, or symptoms of disease. Acupuncture
involves many different techniques, the employment of which depends on
the practitioner's preference and patient's presentation.

Moxibustion
involves the burning of mugwart leaf (moxa) to warm certain acupoints.
Moxa may be applied directly to the skin, placed in a box that sits over
a large area of the body, or formed into a stick which is moved close
to the skin as it is burned.

I've never had acupuncture before. What should I expect?

All acupuncture sessions involve a discussion of your symptoms and therapy options with your practitioner.

In
a traditional acupuncture session, multiple needles are inserted and
the patient rests with the needles for approximately 15 minutes. Often,
both the front and back sides of the body are treated in the same
session. Traditional sessions may also include other treatment
modalities like cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and herbal and
nutritional consultation. Sessions last 60 minutes with 90 minutes for
the initial visit.

Motor point acupuncture sessions
involve the rapid insertion and removal of a single needle which
is stimulated with electricity. The current causes the muscle to twitch
and eventually fatigue. The patient does not rest while retaining
needles as in traditional sessions. Sessions last 15 minutes.

Acupuncture
for balance and gait requires the patient to conduct a series of simple
balance exercises with two needles placed in the scalp. Needles are
manually stimulated during the exercises. Sessions last 15 minutes and
are recommended 3 times per week for the first 4 weeks with weekly
maintenance treatments in perpetuity.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EATEN WITHIN 3 HOURS BEFORE HAVING ACUPUNCTURE OF ANY KIND. Although
it is rare, the insertion of needles can sometimes create a
hypoglycemic state known as "needle shock." Needle shock is not life
threatening, but can make the patient feel faint, nauseated, and
disoriented and requires that the treatment session end immediately.
Eating before treatment will ensure that you will not experience needle
shock.

Will I experience pain during acupuncture?

There is no way to preemptively tell whether or not a patient will
experience pain during treatment. The presence or absence of pain
depends more on the patient than the application of the therapy. Some
people have very sensitive nervous systems and experience intense
sensations, whereas other patients may undergo identical treatment and
feel little pain or nothing. Pain experiences can also vary between
treatments for individual patients. Often anxiety contributes highly to
pain sensation. If you are concerned about pain during therapy, ask your
practitioner for a special ear protocol that will relax your nervous
system before treatment begins.

Acupuncture needles are
filiform (solid metal without a hole in the middle). Their solid, thin
structure combined with the act of stretching skin before insertion acts
to minimize pain. Most often, pain is experienced for about 1-2 seconds
as the needle is inserted, after which it dissipates completely. If a
needle continues to cause sharp, tingling pain that lasts for longer
than 15-20 seconds, it should be removed. Occasionally patients feel an
aching sensation for the duration of the treatment, which as long as it
is not intolerable, is desirable because it indicates that the body is
responding well to the needles. Most patients experience only slight,
transitory pain or no pain with acupuncture.

Cupping and gua sha
can cause pain similar to a deep tissue massage when applied to very
tight muscles. Some patients find the sensations associated with these
therapies pleasant.

How is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) different from other professionals who practice acupuncture or dry needling?

Licensed acupuncturists have a minimum of a 4-year master's degree in
Oriental Medicine with at least 972 clinical hours. They must also pass a
rigorous set of national board exams which are administered by the
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) which test proficiency in Oriental medical principles, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and biomedicine.

Professionals
who are not licensed acupuncturists (any practitioner that does not
have "L.Ac" after his/her name) has completed one of many continuing
education courses that teach acupuncture. The content and rigor of these
courses varies, there is no minimum requirement for clinical hours or
standardized testing for proficiency.